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Tom Lockyer showed off his "battle wound" and explained how the fitted defibrillator could save his life if his heart ever stopped again.

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Lockyer collapsed on the field twice in just seven months Has an Implanted Cardiac Device (ICD) fitted to his chestCould be life-saving in case of another setback on the fieldWHAT HAPPENED?

Lockyer experienced a mid-game cardiac arrest earlier in the season, during a match against Bournemouth in December, marking the second time Lockyer collapsed on the pitch within seven months, after having previously endured atrial fibrillation during the Championship play-off final at Wembley in May. He has now been fitted with an Implanted Cardiac Device (ICD) in his chest which would shock his heart into action should it stop, eliminating the need for external defibrillation and potentially saving his life.

AdvertisementWATCH THE CLIPWHAT LOCKYER SAID

Speaking to Lockyer said: "So that's my battle wound. My defibrillator sits in there, as you can see there's a wire that runs across and up to the heart in case it ever needs to go off.

"So that's constantly monitoring my heart rate and if it goes outside certain parameters then it's designed to give me a shock. That's the wire – the battery lasts about 10 years so only needs changing every 10 years and hopefully I'm never going to need it but it's there as a precaution."

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Lockyer recounted the December incident in vivid detail and insisted that he knew that the second emergency was distinctively different from the first one.

"I was running up to the halfway line and went really light-headed, thinking would be OK in a second. I wasn't and woke up with paramedics everywhere," he revealed.

"It happened in May but I knew instantly this time was different, the last time I woke up almost like from a dream and this time woke up from nothingness.

'I could see straight away, paramedics, physios, club doctors, there was more panic, I couldn't speak, couldn't move, trying to work out what was happening. While that was going on I remember thinking, 'I could be dying here'.

"It's a surreal thought to have been thinking that and not being able to move or respond, and you could see panic going on. Once I came around it was a relief I was alive and fortunate it happened where it happened, I was living it and my family almost had it worse than I have. After what happened in May I have a recording device, and two minutes 40 seconds I was out for, and had to have a defib to shock me back."

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According to West Ham insider ExWHUemployee on Twitter, Middlesbrough are keen to make West Ham striker Jordan Hugill’s stay at the Riverside Stadium permanent, with the fee believed to be between £6m-£7m.

The former Preston North End hitman joined the Hammers last January but played just 22 minutes of Premier League football, according to Transfermarkt, before securing a loan move to Boro in the summer – things are looking up for the 26-year-old now, though, as he finds his shooting boots again in the Championship.

With seven goals and an assist to his name in all competitions, the local boy is proving a good signing for Tony Pulis’ side but, with Lucas Perez having moved to the London Stadium in the summer and a deal for Maxi Gomez reportedly almost complete, as per Sky Sports, Hugill’s career in claret and blue may already be over.

Having commanded a fee of £10m a year ago, according to the BBC, West Ham stand to lose out on the centre-forward if the mentioned price is deemed good enough, however they have a plethora of striking options available so it makes sense to lighten the wage bill if possible.

Here’s how Irons fans reacted to the news on Twitter – it’s fair to say they wouldn’t feel too aggrieved by the departure…

Who is West Ham’s worst ever signing? Check out the video above for a pretty strong candidate for the dubious honour…

Under-fire Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel launched a scathing attack on his side after they lost to Lazio in dire fashion on Wednesday.

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Tuchel under fire after torrid runMade worse after Lazio defeatBayern boss gives scathing assessmentGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Harry Kane was powerless as the German giants' shot at another trophy took a dent in disastrous scenes in Rome. Dayot Upamecano was sent off for a wild challenge inside the box, with Ciro Immobile dispatching the resulting penalty to give Lazio a 1-0 lead to defend in Munich. Naturally, pressure is increasing on Tuchel after a poor result and even worse performance, and the ex-Chelsea boss was damning in his assessment of his side.

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The German told reporters after the defeat: "No, I’m not worried about my future or [the] potential sack. We did everything to lose this match. It was in our hands. At a certain point we stopped believing, I’ve no idea why. There were many individual mistakes”.

(C)Getty ImagesWHAT FREUND SAID

But Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund called on the need for unity in these trying times, as he told after the match: "Of course he is struggling with the situation, which is very difficult for all of us. Our goal is to fight our way out of this together. We’re all in the same boat."

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Bayern's misery on Wednesday night was compounded by them losing significant ground in the Bundesliga title race in their previous fixture. Tuchel was outclassed by Xabi Alonso as this season's surprise package Bayer Leverkusen cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win, pulling five points clear after 21 games and leaving Bayern's players visibly furious.

Manchester United have been urged to sign Kaoru Mitoma as the Brighton winger would be an upgrade on their current attacking options.

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Red Devils lacking an attacking sparkCreative talents overthinking Saha wants to see Japan star snapped upWHAT HAPPENED?

The Red Devils have continued to splash the cash on creative talent in recent windows, with big-money deals done for the likes of Jadon Sancho, Antony and Mason Mount. Erik ten Hag’s side are, however, still lacking a spark, with Louis Saha claiming that is because those charged with the task of dribbling with the ball and making things happen are “thinking too much”.

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Former United striker Saha has told of moves he would be making in upcoming recruitment markets: “I would like to see Mitoma arrive at Old Trafford. He's a very exciting player and he never seems to have any doubt of the ball. He'll bombard defences with offensive moves all the time, and I love his energy and the way he plays with a smile. Mitoma is great to watch, and his attitude would be perfect for any club. Some players think too much, but Mitoma relies on instinct. You can tell he's worked very hard on the training ground to achieve this, and now he's got to a point where he looks like a natural.

“Managers know exactly what they're going to get from Mitoma, and he'd be a strong asset to any club. He'd be very exciting at Manchester United as they tend to have wide players who overthink. They play as if every defender is quicker than them, and that's why they don't often dribble or cross as much as they should. They're too worried that they won't get past defenders! They need to be more direct, and the only United forward who possesses that directness is Rasmus Hojlund. The other players are thinking too much.”

WHAT THEY SAID

While questioning those on the flanks, Saha has said of central playmaker Mount – who arrived from Chelsea over the summer in a £60 million ($77m) deal: “I think Mason Mount can be a lot better, but I'd say the fee was too much. I think Chelsea were playing a game with the fee, even if the market is very competitive and a lot of players have moved for similar fees. People will always have an opinion on transfer fees, and there'll be people who think even [Erling] Haaland and [Kylian] Mbappe cost too much! It's just the nature of football. I'd say, based on what we've seen, Mason Mount isn't performing and I've seen Casemiro play more offensively than Mount! That's a crazy thing to say, but it's true.”

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Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Mount has just one Carabao Cup assist to his name for United, while wide attackers Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho have only two goals between them. In contrast, Mitoma has already registered three goals and four assists this season – to go with the 10 efforts he plundered for Brighton last term.

The Brazilian may have been the club's star summer signing, but it is the former Fulham forward who has emerged as their talisman

On August 15, Al-Hilal announced the signing of Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain for €90 million (£77.2m/$98.3m). It was the most expensive transfer in the history of the Saudi Pro League (SPL), the biggest deal ever done outside of Europe too, and the Brazilian was given a predictably rapturous welcome when he arrived in Riyadh.

Al-Hilal had already made several other notable acquisitions during the off-season, including Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, Malcom and, perhaps most impressively of all, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – but the Neymar transfer obviously trumped them all.

This was the statement signing the club had been desperate to make; a coup comparable to Al-Nassr landing Cristiano Ronaldo in January or Al-Ittihad convincing Karim Benzema to leave Real Madrid at the end of last season.

In terms of visibility and profile, bringing in Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer was priceless. But, from a sporting perspective, Al-Hilal coach Jorge Jesus didn't necessarily need Neymar. In reality, what he really needed was a No.9 – and just four days after Neymar joined, he got one.

Getty ImagesMitrovic forces his way out of Fulham

Al-Hilal did their utmost to persuade Romelu Lukaku to join in July, but the Belgian said that while he was "honoured" by the interest of "the biggest club in the Middle East", he wasn't "ready to leave Europe". Consequently, Al-Hilal had to turn their attention elsewhere, and Aleksandar Mitrovic quickly emerged as their preferred target.

The problem was that Fulham had no intention of selling their star striker, the man that had fired them back into the Premier League with a record-breaking 43 goals – before helping them stay there by netting 14 times last season. But Mitrovic made life difficult for Fulham. Impossible, in fact.

After "reluctantly" agreeing to let him leave after the Premier League season had already begun, and just two weeks before the close of the transfer window, the Cottagers stated that "the player had consistently made his desire to leave known".

Manager Marco Silva went even further, saying that Mitrovic had "forced" his way out of the club. "If you ask me if it is normal? No," the Portuguese told reporters. "If you ask me if football players should behave in this way? No. That is the easy answer."

Advertisement'Al-Hilal a bit like Real Madrid'

Mitrovic felt Al-Hilal had made him an offer that he couldn't refuse. "I talked about it with my family," he told the just over a month after signing a deal worth a reported £400,000 ($500,000) per week. "Turning it down was impossible."

Mitrovic insisted, though, that it wasn't just a question of money. The former Anderlecht and Newcastle forward said he was delighted to have finally "arrived at a top club". While that felt like an unnecessary dig at Fulham, he had a point when he claimed that "Al-Hilal is a bit like Real Madrid in Europe."

They're not just the most successful side in the history of Saudi Arabian football, no team in Asia has lifted more trophies (66), including four AFC Champions Leagues (1991, 2000, 2019 and 2021). They also reached the final of the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this year, losing 5-3 to Madrid themselves in a cracking contest in Morocco.

Getty Images'You can see how Mitrovic helped us'

Jesus was just as happy to have Mitrovic on board and threw him straight into the starting line-up for the August 24 clash with Al-Raed. Just five days after his unveiling as an Al-Hilal player, which coincided with a frustrating 1-1 draw at home to Al-Fayha, Mitrovic made his presence felt, opening the scoring in a 4-0 rout of Al-Raed with a trademark header.

"You can see how Mitrovic helped us offensively today," Jesus enthused afterwards. "In the second half he started to get physically tired, but that is normal because he joined the team only a few days ago."

Mitrovic admitted that he had felt some fatigue in the second half, and would require some time to get in sync with his team-mates, but declared that he felt "more than ready for the upcoming games". And he proved true to his word.

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Stealing Benzema's thunder

When Al-Hilal travelled to Al-Ittihad on September 1 for the first Saudi Clasico of the season, all eyes were on the home side's striker, the Ballon d'Or-holding Benzema. It was the visiting No.9 who stole the show, though. Mitrovic cancelled out Romarinho's opener with a stunning volley before going on to score a hat-trick in a thrilling 4-3 win. A very clear and unequivocal message had been sent to the reigning SPL champions: Al-Hilal were a very real threat to Al-Ittihad's crown with Mitrovic up front.

And the feeling at the time was that as soon as Neymar was fit to play, Jesus' side would become even more formidable up front. That notion was reinforced by the South American setting up two goals in a 26-minute minute cameo against Al-Riyadh a fortnight later. There was another assist – but still no goals – in a 2-0 win over Al-Shabab on September 29.

However, by that point, there were already rumours that Neymar and Jesus were not seeing eye to eye. It was even claimed that the forward wanted the Portuguese sacked, prompting talk that Jesus might return to former club Flamengo.

The forward dismissed the speculation as "bullsh*t" and "fake news", but some have argued that the season-ending injury Neymar suffered while on international duty in October may have been something of a blessing in disguise for Jesus, at least from a tactical perspective.

Arsenal's Declan Rice has opened up on receiving boos from West Ham supporters, admitting it felt "really odd" to score against his former club.

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Arsenal signed Rice for £100 million from West Ham Scored against the Hammers at London StadiumWas jeered by the home fans after he scored GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Rice has emerged as a crucial player for the Gunners in their quest for Premier League glory with four goals and five assists. Despite the struggles against West Ham earlier in the season, where Arsenal faced defeats in the Carabao Cup and the Premier League, Rice remained determined to make his mark. And he walked the talk during the Gunner's 6-0 win earlier in February by scoring a long-ranger at the London Stadium. Nonetheless, the 25-year-old admitted that facing his former club was challenging, especially when met with mixed reactions from West Ham fans at his old stomping ground.

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Speaking to Rice said: "It was so tough. We lost in the cup to them. We lost in the league at the Emirates; I didn't play well and gave away a penalty. The West Ham fans bantered me and I can 100% take that; I played for West Ham for 10 years and I know how they work. When I went over to take the corner, there were a few boos, but there were claps as well.

"I know my love for them has never changed; their love for me has never changed. It is one of those things where you move on. Obviously, I scored a great goal, it was really odd. Even speaking about it now, it is weird. A lot of the lads asked me afterwards, 'How does it feel?' It was a bittersweet feeling, really odd."

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Despite that remarkable strike, Rice refrained from celebrating and the England international added, "I always said I would never celebrate against West Ham and I don't think I ever will. They made me who I am. I spent 10 years there; I owe them a lot. I would never ever celebrate; I think that would be really disrespectful. Overall, [it was] a really good day to win and to score, but a bittersweet feeling."

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Rice remains focused on his development and the team's collective goal of achieving Premier League glory. He will be back in action against Sheffield United on Monday evening to add to his tally of goals.

Sarina Wiegman has already called up some new faces since reaching the World Cup final, and there are plenty more where they came from

It’s been a pretty good couple of years for the England women’s national team. Between winning the European Championships in 2022 and reaching the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, the Lionesses have firmly asserted themselves as a power on the world stage under head coach Sarina Wiegman.

There’s been a lot of growth domestically, too, with the Women’s Super League blossoming into one of the very best places on the planet to play football. The league continues to be an extremely attractive proposition around the world, with some 36 nations represented by its 12 clubs.

But the WSL is also still a place for the best young English talent to thrive. Twenty of the 23 names called up by Wiegman in October ply their trade in their home country, and the stars of the future are getting their opportunities to shine, too, even if the talent pool is expanding massively.

Many of those in the Lionesses’ youth teams have been grabbing the attention in this season’s WSL already, then, despite it still being in its very early stages, and Wiegman has shown that she’s ready to reward that form, calling-up youngsters Khiara Keating and Grace Clinton for the first time in October as a result.

But those two are not the only exciting prospects giving England fans a reason to look forward to the future, either. Here are nine that have caught GOAL’s eye so far in this WSL season…

GettyBrooke Aspin (Bristol City, on loan from Chelsea)

Set to join up with Chelsea next summer after signing a four-year contract this past summer, Brooke Aspin has been shining for Bristol City ever since she broke into the first team as a 16-year-old, so it’s no surprise that she’s already been snapped up by a top club despite not venturing out of those teenage years just yet.

On loan with the Robins this season after helping them win promotion to the top-flight last term, the young centre-back has already come up with a huge moment as the club bids to battle the odds and avoid relegation. Away at West Ham in early November, she rose highest to meet Megan Connolly’s free-kick and head home a goal that would give Bristol their first win and first points of the campaign.

Aspin tops the charts within the City squad for blocks and interceptions, and she is fantastic with the ball at her feet, too. Underpinning the 18-year-old’s performances this season, though, have been leadership qualities that belie her years. Captain of England’s Under-19s, her character and maturity really stands out, and she has the story of a fighter, too.

Last year, Aspin battled a bone infection, a blood clot and sepsis – and still managed to get back onto the pitch before the end of the season to help Bristol win promotion. “I see life as something that you just have to enjoy, you have to live every moment now,” she told . “As soon as I walk out on that pitch, then I’m loving every moment because I’m playing what I love and I may not have got that opportunity before.”

AdvertisementGettyAggie Beever-Jones (Chelsea)

Another young talent on Chelsea’s books, Aggie Beever-Jones has represented the Blues since she was a young girl and this season, after loan spells with Bristol City and Everton, she’s starting to get her first-team opportunities, scoring three goals in just four substitute appearances in the WSL so far. She’s averaging a goal every 21 minutes.

“She stretches teams, she gets in behind,” Chelsea boss Emma Hayes said in October after the 20-year-old had netted the first of those three. "She has some work to do to know when to press, where to press, when not to double down, all of that detail. But she’s always in our offices asking for analysis.”

Beever-Jones is quick, she’s deceptively strong and she’s versatile, too, capable of playing on either wing or as a central striker. Throw in her desire to make things happen and her unpredictability, and she’s becoming a fantastic impact substitute for the reigning WSL champions to turn to.

GettyLaura Blindkilde Brown (Aston Villa)

When GOAL spoke to Aston Villa boss Carla Ward earlier this year, she didn’t hold back in her praise for Laura Blindkilde Brown, the young midfielder who has been a regular starter for the Midlands club since she was just 18 years old.

“Laura is one of the biggest talents I've ever worked with. She really is,” she said. “If she can start believing it… Because she has no idea just how good she can be and how good she is already. You have to keep reminding her every single day because she's just one of a kind. I've literally never worked with a youngster like her.”

Those words say it all, really. It’s no surprise, then, that the Danish Football Association have tried to talk her into representing her mother’s side of the family, whom she wears the name ‘Blindkilde’ on the back of her shirt for. But the 20-year-old told GOAL last year that her dream is to play for England, the team she has long represented at youth level.

An attack-minded midfielder who can also play out wide, Blindkilde Brown has bundles of energy, meaning she presses well, she is excellent at picking up spaces where she can hurt opponents and is generally just a bit of a nuisance for defenders. Her footwork and her love of the game, no doubt strengthened by a heart condition that almost forced her to stop playing a few years ago, make her a joy to watch.

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GettyGrace Clinton (Tottenham, on loan from Man Utd)

A name that many have been keeping an eye on for a while, Grace Clinton threatened time and time again to break through at Everton, but the young midfielder sat largely on the fringes of the squad before joining Manchester United last year.

Compared to Ella Toone by Red Devils boss Marc Skinner due to her ability to “make a magic moment”, first-team opportunities were going to be even harder to come by at a club that was battling for Champions League football (an injury didn’t help either), but Clinton has been able to thrive in her two loan spells since changing clubs in the north west.

After scoring six goals in 12 games to help Bristol win promotion from the second tier last term, the 20-year-old has been so good for Tottenham at the start of this new season that she was called up by Wiegman to be part of the squad for England’s games against Belgium in October.

Operating both as a left winger and a No.10 for Spurs, head coach Robert Vilahamn believes that a wide role is good for Clinton at this stage in her career as it is allowing her to find pockets of space gradually. He has no doubt what lies ahead for her, though. “In the future, she’s going to start as a No.10 in the national team,” he said last month. “I’m quite sure of that.”

The tournament, which kicks-off in Indonesia on Friday, has been previously lit up by the likes of Phil Foden, Cesc Fabregas & Toni Kroos

While the focus of the footballing world is predominantly on club football right now, for some of the game's brightest young talents, all eyes are on international duty and helping to lead their team to glory at the Under-17 World Cup, which kicks-off on Friday, November 10 in Indonesia.

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Brazil are the defending champions, having won the competition on home soil in 2019, and are one of the 24 countries to have qualified for this year's tournament in the hope of both lifting the trophy and exciting fans back home with the potential of the next generation.

Previous iterations of the U17 World Cup have offered a first glimpse at some stars of the future, with previous Golden Ball and Golden Boot winners including Phil Foden, Cesc Fabregas, Toni Kroos, Victor Osimhen and Landon Donovan.

So, who looks set to follow in those illustrious footsteps this time around? GOAL has picked out 17 players to keep an eye on over the next few weeks, ahead of the final on December 2…

How to watch the U17 World Cup on TV & stream liveGael Alvarez (Mexico)

Mexico qualified for the tournament after winning the CONCACAF U17 Championship in February, and Alvarez proved to be the star of the show as he picked up the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.

The 17-year-old, who plays his club football for Pachuca, is a winger who plays predominantly off the left-hand side and uses his quick feet and change of pace to beat defenders before crossing for team-mates or cutting inside onto his favoured right foot.

Alvarez has already spent time at Feyenoord on trial, and further European clubs are sure to take notice if he can repeat his heroics from the continental championship on the global scale.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesKarol Borys (Poland)

With Robert Lewandowski likely closing in on international retirement, Polish football is on the lookout for a new poster boy, and Borys has all the potential to fill that void over the next decade.

The 17-year-old midfielder is noted for his all-round game, though his dribbling ability and willingness to commit defenders with his close control is what sets him apart from his peers, while he scored three goals in Poland's run to the semi-finals of the U17 Euros that secured their World Cup qualification.

Having previously spent time on trial at Manchester United, Borys has also been linked with Manchester City and PSV after impressing in his handful of appearances for boyhood club Slock Wrocklaw, for whom he is their youngest-ever player.

Getty ImagesParis Brunner (Germany)

Dubbed 'the next Youssoufa Moukoko' at Borussia Dortmund thanks to his outrageous goalscoring numbers for the club's youth teams, Brunner was voted Player of the Tournament and was the competition's joint-top scorer as Germany won the U17 Euros during the summer.

The 17-year-old forward has netted 10 times in eight league games for Dortmund's U19s so far this season, and has likened his own game to that of Leroy Sane's due to his tendency to bring the ball forward from deep to get into dangerous positions.

Barcelona are said to be tracking his progress, though there are some character concerns that need ironing out, with Brunner having recently been suspended by Dortmund following an unspecified incident that has meant he hasn't played since mid-October.

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Getty ImagesPau Cubarsi (Spain)

La Masia is not renowned for producing top-tier centre-backs, but in Pau Cubarsi, Barcelona look to have unearthed a defensive gem with the capabilities of becoming a mainstay at Camp Nou in the coming years.

Like many up-and-coming defenders, the 16-year-old is supremely comfortable when in possession, though it is his reading of the game at such a young age which really makes him stand out from his peers.

Cubarsi has already made Xavi's matchday squad on a number of occasions this season, including for El Clasico and in the Champions League, and was recently linked with Chelsea as the Blues look to continue sweeping up top talents from around the globe.

Trent Alexander-Arnold says Liverpool’s “aim is to win the league” in 2023-24, with the Reds preparing to compete with Manchester City once again.

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Reds have one Premier League title to their nameHave run City close on several occasionsKlopp's side ready to compete for crown againWHAT HAPPENED?

Jurgen Klopp’s side secured a historic Premier League crown back in 2019-20 and have finished as runners-up on two other occasions in the last five campaigns. They slipped out of the top four last season, but have rediscovered a spark to sit second again – one point off the summit – ahead of a crunch clash with City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD SAID

Alexander-Arnold has said of the collective mindset at Anfield heading into another heavyweight duel with City: “Being in three campaigns where we’d have won the league if it wasn’t for City – we won one but went close in two more – you get a feeling for what you know you are capable of doing. Looking around the dressing room, looking at the players we have got, the team, the spirit, the vibe around the team, that [challenging for the league] is something that we feel is achievable. Our aim as a team is to win the league and that's the aim again this season. Last season wasn't good enough. But challenging is something that we believe we can achieve, that is where our sights are at.”

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Liverpool have had to freshen up their squad in recent transfer windows, after parting with the likes of Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, and Alexander-Arnold believes they are well placed to claim another top-flight title. He added: “If that wasn’t the case, I would be here saying, ‘I want to get back in the top four.’ Because, genuinely, there is nothing wrong with that for this team. There is a rebuild going on, and new players and a lot of senior players have left, it would be very normal to say, ‘get back in the top four and push on from there’. But so far we've performed in a way that is how you would expect someone who can win the league to perform and if we carry this on we should be in and around it come May.

“Right now we have put ourselves in a good position, we have built a great foundation – it is just about consistency. That’s the hardest thing in football, but we have shown that we are more than capable of doing it. I think the players who are experienced in being successful with the club all understand what it takes and what's needed to even challenge a team like City. It was about getting that message across as quickly as possible to the new players and young players coming in. Our ambition is to be as successful as possible and to maximise the potential we have got as a team and as a club. At the start of last season it was the same as at the start of this season: our ambition was to win the league.”

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

Liverpool have suffered only one defeat through 12 games this season, picking up 27 points, but have not won away at City in the Premier League since November 2015.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney were never seriously interested in buying Hartlepool, says Raj Singh, with Wrexham always “their first choice”.

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Hollywood pair teamed up in 2021Explored various optionsSettled on project in North WalesWHAT HAPPENED?

The Hollywood pair teamed up in the spring of 2021 to move a long way outside of their comfort zone and buy into football ownership. Various options were mulled over when the boldest of ideas was first floated, with Wrexham executive director Humphrey Ker having claimed that teams in the north of England and Scotland were considered for investment.

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Ker told the in 2022: “Rob was always lightly intrigued [in football]. He’s a big sports fan. We knew from the jump we wanted to find somewhere that needed a helping hand or felt like it deserved a stroke of luck. Hartlepool was one we looked at vaguely, Macclesfield was talked about. There was a couple who were talked about that were in trouble.”

WHAT THEY SAID

Hartlepool are still looking for a buyer, but current chairman Singh insists he did not force Reynolds and McElhenney elsewhere with high demands – regardless of what some disgruntled supporters may think. He has said in the club’s : “On Wednesday I released a statement to give our supporters an update on the sale of the club. It was really disappointing to hear some of the comments from some of our so-called fans, although not unexpected. I have been accused of putting a high asking price on the club and told that I should have sold the club to the Americans a couple of years ago when I had the chance. Wrexham was always their first choice and they were keeping their options open by talking to other clubs like ourselves. At the time, I asked for half-a-million initial payment for the club.

“If recent reports are to be believed, Wrexham had a deal agreed for a similar amount for Luke Armstrong. So you mean to tell me that they wouldn’t have paid that amount if they really wanted to buy Hartlepool United? The reality is there isn’t a queue of people out on Clarence Road to take over the club, just as there wasn’t one six years ago. Having said all of that, I’m still trying to run the club to the best of my ability with the resources at our disposal. All teams go through bad patches during the season. I believe we’ve got a manager who is tried and tested in these situations and will steer us clear. We all need to keep supporting the manager and the team and hopefully things will turn around sometime soon.”

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Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Hartlepool sit 13th in the National League table as things stand, having slipped out of the Football League again last season, while Wrexham are riding high in League Two and daring to dream of securing back-to-back promotions.